ITP Indian Travel Places: Food, Travel, Tourism Business Events and Trade Shows
Phone: +91 8041116879, +91 9591506572
Address: 14/1, Wood Street, Ashok Nagar, Richmond Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Time: 12 Noon – 3 PM, 7 PM – 11 PM
Meals for two: Rs. 1,500
Cuisines: European, Asian
Facilities: Full Bar Available, Valet Parking Available, Table booking recommended, Above 18 Only,
Indoor Seating, Smoking Area
Toast & Tonic, Richmond Road, Bangalore: Decor
This cozy restaurant is such a welcome respite from the places that boast of longest bar, tallest ceiling and largest terrace. Superlatives of this sort are overrated. Returning to Toast & Tonic after a long time, I was again enveloped in its warm and welcoming air. The barnyard creatures were still suspended on twinkling lights and there were fresh flowers on the sills. What makes the mood here, though, is the happy buzz of people having a good time, ordering G&Ts by the score and nibbling on the delicious small plates.
Toast & Tonic, Richmond Road, Bangalore: Food
Chef Manu Chandra, who introduced Toast & Tonic and a whole new way of enjoying local ingredients to Bengaluru, is always infusing excitement into his menus — not gimmicks, but food concepts emerging from deep thought and imagination. So, now, T&T serves cheese platters with cheeses from Begum Victoria, an urban, artisanal cheese brand which sees Manu Chandra turn fromager. We ordered G&Ts, but of course, as we waited for the Cheese Platter. It was beautifully presented. There were four types of cheese in perfect portions. The cheeses vary depending on what’s available and at its best. This platter held a little wedge of the creamiest, most scrumptious brie, young cheddar, havarti and, what I loved best, bel paes. Alongside were house-made mustard, quivering pink squares of guava jelly, tomato and perilla seed chutney, and roasted pineapple and rum jam, with a perfectly ripe fig and a mini pile of crackers baked inhouse. The star accompaniment for me was the smoked honey. Sweet and intensely smokey, it paired beautifully with every cheese and took them to another plane. To nibble on these cheeses, sipping on the best G&Ts in town, is a definite pleasure.
For main course, my companion and I shared the Udon, House-Cured Chorizo and Clams. It was a delicious bowl, unadorned and yet spectacular for the reason that the very best ingredients had gone into it.
And I sucked on every clam and saw the pile of shells grow on a side plate that was thoughtfully provided.
Dessert was Coffee. At its centre is a silken Filter Coffee Cremeux, surrounded by nutty, crunchy bits and coffee gel, the dark intensity of coffee unmissable in every mouthful.
Toast & Tonic, Richmond Road, Bangalore: Service
The staff are knowledgeable and efficient, engaging with customers with a friendly air.
Toast & Tonic, Richmond Road, Bangalore: Plus & Minus
Award-winning cocktails and one of my top choices for food in Bengaluru. There isn’t much to fault at this restaurant.
